The Justice Department announced on Monday that it has charged 28 foreign nationals living in California with federal election crimes, including fraudulent voter registration and illegal voting.
All 28 are lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, the department said. Federal agents arrested 11 of them on Monday across the state as part of “Operation Protect the Vote,” a coordinated effort by California’s four U.S. attorney’s offices. Officials said the remaining defendants will be taken into custody in the near future.
The charges include unlawful voting by a noncitizen, false claims of U.S. citizenship to vote or register, and false statements on naturalization applications. Each is a felony carrying a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, the department said.
The announcement follows the department’s lawsuit against California days earlier over a list of more than 20,000 people it described as likely noncitizens on the state’s voter rolls. California declined to set aside those ballots, and the suit asks a court to stop the state from counting them until citizenship is confirmed.
Early voting is underway in California ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. The arrested defendants were expected to make initial court appearances Monday afternoon, the department said.
Source: USA Today
